# NTSB MIA98LA209: Cessna A-188B, N21676, Zolfo Springs, FL, July 27, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 1998, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Zolfo Springs, FL - Coordinates: 27.490724, -81.790153 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4907&lon=-81.7902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43266 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43266/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA209 ## Probable cause Total loss of engine power due to catastrophic internal engine failure caused by migration of a counterweight retaining. ## Analysis The aerial application flight was pulling up from his second tract run of the day, at an altitude of 100 to 150 feet agl, when the engine made a 'clunk' sound and stopped running. The pilot felt his only option, given the low altitude, was a forced landing to a 'wide row' in the citrus grove. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed a crankshaft counterweight retaining pin had migrated from its installed position causing catastrophic internal failure. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 1998, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A-188B, N21676, registered to a private individual, operating as a 14 CFR 137 aerial application flight, crashed near the town of Zolfo Springs, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 25 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he had just pulled off his second tract of the day, at about 100 to 150 feet of altitude agl, when he heard a "clunk" and his engine quit. At such an altitude, he stated his only option was a forced landing to a "wide row" in the citrus grove. Subsequent disassembly inspection of the engine, with FAA overview, revealed the initial failure to be the migration of one of the two counterweight mounting pins on the rearmost crankshaft journal. This resulted in flailing of the counterweight until it broke through the crankcase. The #5 and #6 cylinder barrels had been peened inside the crankcase and had to be sawed off. The crankshaft had broken. The accident happened at the aircraft's tachometer reading of 2929.2 hours. The engine underwent a major overhaul and was signed off by an authorized inspector on August 27, 1997, at a tachometer reading of 2678.8 hours, or about 250 hours previous to the accident. The aircraft had undergone a 100 hour inspection on February 17, 1998, at a tachometer reading of 2744.5 hours. Copies of engine and aircraft log entries are included under, "Other Pertinent Forms and Reports". ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application - eng assembly,crankshaft counterweights/vib damper - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21676](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21676-2013-11-13), registration cancelled 2013-11-13, S/N 18800951, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A-188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18800951 - Airframe hours: 2929 - Engines: Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Mary C. Weisman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 17, 1998, 185 hours before - Departed: FD06, WAUCHULA, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 5,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 82 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SRQ, 48 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980727017979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980727017979A), Jul 27, 1998: Cessna A188B, Zolfo Springs, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit at end of spray run. Collided with trees in an orange grove. (.19) on July 27, 1998, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A-188B, N21676,… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.